TARLAC’s elite cyclist Sherwin Diamsay was at his professional best as he outsprinted his four breakaway partners on the last 250 meters to win the Villasis Open Cycling Classic last Sunday and pocketed the P8,000 top prize and a trophy.

            Umingan pride Emil Pablo and San Fabian son Sherwin Carrera came in close second and third, respectively, to bag P5,000 and P3,000. Philippine national standout Emilito Atilano landed fourth and Mangaldanon Ariel Flores checked in fifth, winning P2,000 and P1,000 respectively.

            The five had an identical clocking of four hours, nine minutes and 10 seconds for the 166.5 kilometers race that started and ended at Villasis traversing five times the national highways of the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang and Malasiqui route which was participated in by 140 cyclists.

            The event was sponsored by Public Works and Highways Region 1 Director and Mrs. Fidel D. Ginez and family.

            It was a ‘cat and mouse’ pace from the start and up to the half-way mark, but the veterans led by the five winners got the upperhand on the last round of three, a 55.5- kilometer circuit. The five made a successful breakaway and never looked back with Diamsay, a member of the Villasis Cycling Club, prevailing at the homestretch to the delight of the Villasis townspeople.

            “I tried my very best to win the race because although I was born and raised in Tarlac City, I considered myself now from this place,” said Diamsay.

            Rounding up the top ten and their prizes are: Enrique Domingo, sixth, P900; Oscar Rendole, seventh, P800; Reynaldo Navarro, eight, P700; Edilberto Orpilla, ninth, P600; Ericson Obosa, tenth, P500.

            The road battle, which was staged in conjunction with the celebration of the Villasis town fiesta, was aired live from start to finish over Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan DZRH Dagupan 1161 KHz AM. — JAG Jr.

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